The Beast and Creature science room was even more spacious than the last class. The back wall was lined with bookshelves and another door stood locked in the corner. The teacher was standing in the front waiting for the class to settle down. She had short, frizzy orange hair tied in a ponytail and she had big round glasses on.

Once they did settle down, she introduced herself.

'Good morning class, I am Professor Silong. You all know I will be teaching Beast and Creature science. It may include ending up face to face with a full grown dragon, or maybe even taking care of a very delicate bird. But, we will have fun.'

'Let's start with some questions, to jog your memory, can anybody name any three enchanted creatures?' she challenged the class. There was silence for a few seconds until a boy at the front hesitatingly held up his hand.

'Traveler horse, Wish Fish and Zodiac snake.'

'Excellent, what's your name, son?'

'Mike.'

'Excellent, and can anyone tell me what they do?'

A girl, seated at the far corner of the class, answered.

'Traveler horses take you to different places, a Wish Fish grants wishes and Zodiac snakes are evil's pets.'

'Yes, that's correct! Looks like we have quite a clever bunch of students here today. That was just to give you a kick start. We will begin today's lesson like any other first year; choosing your very own pets, my personal favorite.'

There were excited murmurs and gasps from the class.

Miss Silong led them to a door at the back and assembled her class into a straight line. Then she handed out a guide.

'This,' she said, 'is a camera book. All you have to do is snap a picture of the animal and the information will appear on the page.'

June opened the to the first page; it was blank. Second page – blank. She flipped through the book – all blank. On the back cover, however, there was a single eye. She looked around in confusion.

'Remember students, the pet chooses you.'

June stepped outside the classroom, felt an unexpected jolt, and gasped.

She felt as if she had gone through the portal again, seeing Comikaycrest for the first time. Only, this time, there were animals involved, a lot of them. Creatures that flew, creatures that chirped. Creatures that roared and growled and purred and whistled and croaked and splashed in the ponds. All these sounds played at once, and it was beautiful, like a nature's orchestra in perfect harmony.

June didn't know where to start. She looked down at the book in her hand, realizing she didn't know how to use it. The eye was frozen. She glanced at the other students; she saw one slide the eyelid open and snap a picture.

June tried the same. The eye felt soft, and she was afraid she'd damage it. Slowly, she tried to pry it open, but it didn't budge. She tried again, with more force, and was successful. The eye stared at her unblinkingly.

She took a picture of what looked like a rabbit to her. The pages of the book began flipping too fast for her to see the contents. It stopped to a certain page, and June read the information.

She reached her hand to touch the ball of fur, but it instantly snapped at her and ran into the nearest bush. June let out a disappointed sigh.

But then, suddenly, a melodious chirp coming from the tall trees above distracted her. June looked up to the sound and there it was. A royal blue bird flew across from branch to branch then finally landed on a nearby stump. It tilted its head and looked at June with its beady owl eyes.

June snapped the best picture she could of it.

June stepped towards the creature; it stood like a statue on the tree stump until June reached out a hand to touch its soft feathery head. It roughly flapped its wings and took off to the trees, leaving a loud, angry squawk behind. June stared at it as it landed on a branch out of reach from the ground. The bird didn't choose her. Maybe she ought to change her approach.

She walked on until she reached a small pond; there was a silvery glow coming from beneath. The glow grew brighter as if something was rising. Then suddenly a miniature horse, splashed out, its blue skin glittered in the sun and its majestic white mane was blown by the wind. It neighed, walking out of the water and stopped in front of June; its head only reached slightly above her ankle. The horse bent its front leg and bowed. As it did, June snapped a picture.

If I could have a magical pet, what would I get? June heard Audrey's voice. I'd get a Water Horse. They're amazing creatures, and they'll stick by you through your darkest times. I'd name it Alexus for a boy, or Alexia for a girl. It means warrior.

June looked down at the horse. Its skin was light blue, almost white. It neighed and ruffled its mane. The only question was ... will it choose her? She bent down on one knee so that she could examine it closely.

'Hey, little buddy,' June whispered.

The horse didn't acknowledge.

She tried to get its attention again. This time it looked at her, gnawing on grass. She could see her own reflection in its eyes.

'Do you have a name?' June asked and she reached her index finger to stroke the horse's white mane. The horse brushed herself softly against June's palm.

June's heart fluttered.

'Alexia,' June said. The horse neighed.

'She's beautiful.'

June spun around, startled. The girl wore a corset top with attached sleeves and black skirt with a hat. A black necklace with a skull charm ringed her neck, and knee high black boots covered her legs. A parrot rested on her shoulder. The entire getup reminded June of a pirate.

'Horizon.'

June guessed that 'Horizon' was the girl's name. 'June Price.'

She stroked the parrot. 'This is Betsy.'

'Oh, hello Betsy.'

'Hello. Hello,' Betsy replied.

June laughed. Betsy reminded her of a parrot the Binstrel's once had. It would often fly into her house, searching their kitchen for the special biscuits that Audrey would buy. And June would talk to it, when she was only a baby, picking up words that the parrot would have said.

The bell rang.

Horizon swung her bag over her shoulder. 'What's your next class?'

'P.E.'

'Mine too,' she sighed. 'Mind if I join you?'

*

They walked out the class together to the grounds. The sun was its peak, burning their skins as they strolled outside.

They were led into the girls' change room. June took out the uniform from her bag that was given in the hamper. It included a black tracksuit pants, shorts and a white vest baring the Enchanted High coat of arms on the breast pocket. She quickly changed into the tracksuit pants and vest and joined the rest of the girls with the teacher.

Miss. Linda, she introduced herself.

She had short brown hair and wore the same uniform as the students, a yellow whistle hung from her neck and she wore a cap, fierceness burning in her eyes.

'Alright girls are you ready for some serious adrenaline?' she had a rough, unlike a feminine, voice.

'Yes!' the group chorused.

'I want five laps around the ground, now! Go! Go! Go!' she yelled.

Without hesitating, everybody began jogging. In the scorching heat they ran according to the oval shape of the grounds. As June jogged, she couldn't help but gaze back at the buildings of Enchanted High behind her. From her position, she could see the Sorcery classroom; the cafeteria, even the dome shaped roof of the dorms.

A group of giggling girls running ahead of her caught her attention.

'... He's cute,' said one of them with multiple tattoos on her arms. When she turned sideways, June saw that her eyebrows were pierced.

They all were staring across the grounds, to the benches, where a crowd of students were seated. June didn't recognize any of them; one had long black hair that fringed over his face so that the only feature you saw was his mouth. Another, as June looked at him, sprouted thorns all over his skin.

'This year's Death Vipers,' Horizon whispered to June. 'I wouldn't be surprised if they join them too.' She gestured at the girl with piercings bitterly.

After four more rounds, June was exhausted from running and desperately needed to drink water, they returned to Miss Linda.

'You girls are horrible at running,' she spat at them, 'you are slow, and too talkative.' She tossed bottles of water to the crowd without warning; a few people struggled and dropped the bottles, which disappeared. 'Too bad. You don't catch it; you don't get to drink it.'

The bell rang. June turned to see students entering the grounds; she heard a sound like tires across tar, felt a burst of wind. When she turned back, Miss. Linda was gone.

'Speed,' said Horizon, 'she runs at the speed of sound. We'll always be slow.'

June gazed into the distance, and suddenly, she was running into the sunset, trees whizzing past her – a blur – the sky shifted from azure blue to night, dotted with millions of stars – people pointed at her, but she swished past them, raising dust in her wake –

'June?'

June blinked. She wasn't running, there was no night sky, and people weren't pointing. She was having fantasies in a fantasy world.

I had it too, said Audrey's voice. It's a blessing and a curse. Get used to it.